As floodwaters along the Fitzroy River begin to stabilise and slowly recede, Rockhampton is moving from peak flood response into recovery. While flood level forecasts were revised down slightly as the event unfolded, the community prepared for the worst by taking precautionary measures, including the deployment of flood barriers to protect critical areas.
Following heavy rainfall across the Fitzroy catchment due to the wet season and heavy rains from the remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji, Rockhampton Regional Council and emergency services activated a range of precautionary measures ahead of the river’s predicted peak. These included road closures, sandbagging operations and the deployment of a temporary modular flood barrier in a known low-lying area of North Rockhampton.
A recent Facebook reel shared by Queensland resident Jay Dodds captured the barrier being installed in the days leading up to the flood peak — a timely reminder of how preparation before the water arrives can make a real difference for communities.
Acting Early Makes the Difference
Rockhampton’s history with flooding is well known. Major events in 1991 and 2011 saw the Fitzroy exceed nine metres, inundating hundreds of homes and cutting the city in two. Those events have shaped how flood-prone communities now approach preparedness, with a stronger focus on early intervention rather than reactive response.
In the current event, forecasts initially pointed to moderate flooding, prompting the early deployment of the Water Street flood barrier in Berserker. The aim was clear: prevent floodwater from backing into residential streets before river levels peaked.
As forecasts were revised downward and the Fitzroy reached its high point, these early measures helped limit impacts to low-lying areas, with many homes avoiding internal flooding altogether. With river levels now easing, attention is turning to reopening roads, removing temporary defences and supporting the community through recovery.
OTHER ASSET OWNERS TAKING STEPS ACROSS QUEENSLAND
Rockhampton’s deployment of a temporary flood barrier is just one example of how asset owners across Queensland and beyond are turning to modular barrier systems to protect communities and critical infrastructure ahead of rising waters. In Maryborough, the Fraser Coast Regional Council has strategically used a Geodesign Heavy Duty Flood Barrier to shield the central business district during past flood events, combining training and early preparation to safeguard homes and businesses from inundation, a testament to proactive flood defence planning in regional towns.
Likewise, Urban Utilities in South East Queensland partnered with Pipe Management Australia (PMA), the Australian distributor for the GeoDesign Flood Barrier, and Hydro Response to deploy one of the largest GeoDesign Flood Barrier installations to date at the Oxley Treatment Plant during heightened flood risk. The installation secured essential water infrastructure under challenging conditions ahead of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. These examples highlight a growing trend among councils and utilities to embrace rapid-deployment flood barriers as part of broader flood resilience strategies.
Available through the National Emergency Management Stockpile Panel
The Geodesign Flood Barrier is now available to Federal, State, and Local Government departments, councils, and government-owned utilities through the National Emergency Management Stockpile (NEMS) Panel. The NEMS Panel is Australia’s national framework for purchasing and deploying critical emergency supplies before and during disasters.
What is the NEMS Panel?
The NEMS Panel is a federal initiative coordinated by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). It provides governments at all levels with the ability to purchase essential disaster response assets and services. This includes flood barriers, generators, dewatering pumps, emergency shelter camps, other high-priority tools, skilled personnel, various engineering services, warehousing and transport.
The NEMS Panel supports emergency preparedness by:
- streamlining procurement
- having pre-negotiated contractual terms
- ensuring a high standard in the quality and performance of services and equipment used during disaster response.
What this means for Councils and Government-Owned Utilities
The Geodesign Flood Barrier is now on the NEMS Panel. This means it’s recognised as a quality, deployable asset for emergency flood response across Australia. State governments, councils and government–owned utilities can access this solution through NEMS, benefiting from:
- Rapid deployment during flood emergencies;
- Streamlined acquisition processes;
- National consistency in the use of proven, tested technology
Plan Ahead: lead times and strategic procurement
It’s important to understand that the NEMS Panel serves as a strategic procurement mechanism. Australia does not hold commercial stocks of high-value and complex items such as Geodesign Flood Barrier. Most barriers are manufactured to order, and lead times can be up to 24 weeks.
To avoid delays during high-risk periods, Geodesign Flood Barriers advises to purchase in the lower-risk weather season. This allows time for delivery and readiness before storms or flooding occur.
Preparedness starts before the forecast. Ordering ahead ensures you're ready when the next event strikes.
How to order through the NEMS Panel
Government entities can access the Geodesign Flood Barrier through an outright purchase arrangement under the NEMS Panel. This is the most effective way for councils and utilities to secure flood mitigation equipment ahead of high-risk weather seasons.
By purchasing outright, your organisation can:
- Take ownership of the equipment
- Have full control over deployment timing and logistics
- Integrate the barriers directly into your existing emergency response plans and assets
You can order the Geo-Design Flood Barrier to meet the bespoke needs of your site.
Steps to take
- Contact NEMA to arrange access to the NEMS Panel.
- Plan procurement during low-risk seasons to allow for manufacturing lead times.
- Speak to Pipe Management Australia to discuss options, lead times, and potential Guaranteed Holding arrangements.
Talk to PMA About Flood Resilience
As communities across Queensland continue to face flood risk, now is the time to review preparedness strategies and temporary protection options, not during the next emergency, but well ahead of it.
If your council or organisation is looking to strengthen flood resilience, get in touch with Pipe Management Australia to discuss how temporary flood barriers and proactive planning can help protect communities when it matters most.
